Biography

Much sought after for her beautifully detailed and moving characterizations as well as her stunning vocal talents, soprano Anna Vikre is equally at home spinning a seamless vocal line or singing coloratura fireworks. The petite soprano is an audience favorite who not only looks the part but lures them in with her easy acting style. Originally trained as an actress, Ms. Vikre's performance of Violetta Valery in La Traviata with Sacramento Opera was called "stirring." "Her tragic illness in the last scene had been so musically and emotionally convincing that her curtain call almost seemed miraculous."

Well known for her portrayal of the Queen of the Night, Anna Vikre has appeared in Die Zauberflöte in Mexico City at Bellas Artes (televised live throughout South America,) Florida Grand Opera, Opera Columbus, Connecticut Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Pacific, Nashville Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Stadttheater Geißen among others. Her Queen has been called "stunning," "dead solid perfect," "kick ass," and "truly remarkable."

As Lucia with Opera Memphis "her acting drew in the audience" and "almost stopped the show twice by earning extended ovations for her soaring soprano feats." With Des Moines Metro Opera, Vikre was "compelling as the ill-fated Lucia. Her vocal technique is impeccable, capable of negotiating the most ornate passages of this elaborate music with ease and security – all the while singing with a brilliant, touch-of Callas timbre and drama that is riveting as well as ravishing."

The Los Angeles Times said that Vikre's voice "soared in authentic Straussian soprano fashion" in her portrayal of Aminta in Die Schweigsame Frau with Long Beach Opera.

"A winning comedian," Vikre has performed Donizetti's Norina in Don Pasquale with Utah Festival Opera, Orlando Opera, Lake George Opera and in Dusseldorf at Deutche Oper am Rhein. Other Donizetti roles include Adina in L'elisir d'amore with Orlando Opera and Dayton Opera, and the title role in La Fille du Régiment with Michigan Opera Theatre.

She has performed the role of Rosalinda (Sacramento Opera,) in Die Fledermaus, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Memphis, and Madam Goldentrill from The Impressario with Lake George Opera. In New York's Caramoor Festival Ms. Vikre portrayed Melissa in Handel's Amadigi. She recently returned to Des Moines Metro Opera to perform Birdie in Regina, and sang Norina with Paul Plishka as Don Pasquale in Vero Beach, Florida. This coming March she will appear as Elvira in L'italiana in Algeri for Utah Opera with her husband Rod Nelman appearing as Mustafa.

Recent Concert appearances include highlights from La Traviata, and Candide at Avery Fisher Hall, and Madame Mao from Nixon in China in a concert gala for Long Beach Opera.

Ms. Vikre studied Drama at Sacramento State University in California, and is the winner of many competitions including the Palm Beach Opera competition, Birmingham Opera Competition, Boca Raton Voice Competition, and Florida Grand Opera's Young Patroness of the Opera Competition. She was also chosen as a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and has received two Support Grants from the Metropolitan Opera Educational Fund.